THING #8 SCREENCAST

My goodness I have spent many hours on this Thing#8 and have had so much trouble trying to get this done. Finally after deciding I would be a 11.5 Things drop out I did try GoView and was somewhat successful. I did the video on how to save to a San Folder but did not like it. So I am just teaching the students how to play Freecell. It is one of my favorite card games so here goes...




Oh yes I did have trouble with the sound but I will deal with that another day, whew!!!
I can see how students would enjoy using GoView to make videos for their own projects/assignments. The jouralism class did a 'Me' project at the end of the year and the teacher showed the students what she wanted several times using the computer, LCD projector and screen. I think she could have produced a GoView video and the students could view it on a need to bases.
I still want to do the 'Saving to san folder' video but I have to move on for now...

THING #7 VIDEO RESOURCES

I watched Creative Common Licensing several times and it reminds us to give credit when we use others videos just like we give credit when we use peoples words.

Blinkx
OMG over 35 million hours of video. You can find out about anything and everything 'you always wanted to know about but afraid to ask'. I searched how to do wordle, use smartboard, info about different countries, sports, Every subject is on this thing. I have bookmarked it! Blinkx will come in handy helping students find out information for assignments, class projects, etc! I have added a how to video for wordle because I think they are cool!!!

More DIY videos at 5min.com

PBS
I have always been a fan of PBS! I have used it for years and have always trusted the sources to be accurate for student use.

Google video search
is another that has unlimited information to individuals to use.

THING #6 iTouch Apps

I think it is was cool that there were apps for all the core classes plus everything else offered at school. I read an article and Steve Jobs refered to the iPhone as mobil learning and that is what all of this is about. Another article talked about a school giving iPods to all the students and teachers to use. The article was very positive. It talked about students need to thrive in the world that they find themselves in. Students are not passive observer learners anymore but participants. An example was used that they do not need to know the date of a battle but how to google and know it within seconds.

I understand that everything is at your finger tips and right now I am a wannabe.

Okay I have spent some time with an iPod, iTouch, iPhone and WOW. I kinda seem to be all over the place with this one, as usual! I have played with, read articles and now all that is left is for me to buy an iPhone.

THING #5 MICROBLOGGING

facebook
I like facebook. I do not check my account everyday or even everyweek but have enjoyed visiting with people I have not seen or heard from in a number of years. I have heard from a number of past students and that is cool to catch up on what they are doing. For that reason I am a facebook fan. I think the Book Clubs for Kids on Facebook would be way cool.

twitter
One good thing about twitter is the 'shortness'. Yes it was simple to join! I have joined yet another 'thing' I am a twitter! After watching the Twitter in Plain English I thought of something I would like to follow, books. Lots of time I just want to know what someone is reading and nothing else. This is a way to do that one because of the shortness.

back-channeling
I like this concept! The only one I have particpated in is the one we did at our library meeting in April and I thought that was cool. We have all passed notes during conferences or lectures why not do them electronically.


Facebook and Twitter are social networking blogs that can be used by students in and out of the classroom. The idea of driving to meet face to face for group meeting can be thing of the past! These can be used for individual assignments, group and class projects, announcements the use is certainly unlimited.
Back-channeling for the student that is not sure of self, quieter, thinkier to participate by either asking or anwering questions.
I am trying to get into the SBISD twitter page but so far no luck.

THING #4 VIDEO HOSTING (YouTube)

I am apprehensive about YouTube! I guess because all or most of my experience with YouTube has been problems. I usually can view them okay at home when they come in emails or I see one on the web. Of Course viewing at school is a problem because our District does not allow them, yet. I hate it when you can see a few seconds and then have to wait for buffing or whatever it is doing and see another few seconds. I love the concept and I think schools will catch up to using them.





Actually this was very easy and that is close to a miracle for me, YEA!!!